The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) joint Statement on Mental Health and Well-being now has the support of three additional international veterinary groups.
The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, (CVMA), the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) and the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) have joined forces to promote improved mental health and are new signatories to the Statement, which was adopted by the RCVS and AVMA in July 2018 and revised on 29 August 2019.
The statement prioritises positive mental health and wellbeing for the individual veterinarian, allied animal health care professional and veterinary student as the first step to a healthy profession and optimal animal health, welfare and public health. The statement reads:
‘We believe that for veterinary professionals to realise their full potential and the global veterinary profession to remain sustainable, maintaining high levels of mental health and wellbeing for all members of the veterinary team is a priority. Improving veterinary mental health and wellbeing has a positive impact on individuals, the profession at large and, ultimately, animal health and welfare, and public health.’
‘I am delighted that these three organisations are joining the RCVS and AVMA in promoting and supporting positive mental health amongst the veterinary community. The global veterinary community faces diverse challenges but one common issue is ensuring that we care for and support our professionals so that they can, in turn, deliver high standards of care to animals and their owners – something that is particularly important to keep in mind this World Mental Health Day. I look forward to working with them towards this common aim,’ says Lizzie Lockett, RCVS CEO and Mind Matters Director.
‘Collaboration among these highly respected international veterinary organisations amplifies the message that sound mental health and wellbeing is the very first step to allowing our colleagues to provide for the health and welfare of animals and people,’ adds Dr John Howe, AVMA President.
The RCVS Mind Matters Initiative in the UK and the AVMA’s Wellbeing and Peer Assistance Initiative are the foundation of the joint statement. The organisations that have signed onto the Statement on Mental Health and Well-being will collaborate on projects to advocate positive behavior and support around mental health in the veterinary profession, developing evidence-based programmes, and sharing best practices around interventions. A three-prong approach includes:
Prevent
Addressing the systemic issues that lead to poor levels of mental health, including the risk of suicide, and sub-optimal well-being across the veterinary team. This includes researching the issues and developing and advocating policies and interventions that are supportive of positive mental health.
Protect
Providing and promoting the skills and knowledge required by individuals and organisations to increase levels of well-being and improve mental health in veterinary medicine. Making such interventions evidence-based and widely accessible.
Support
Ensuring suitable expert support is available to veterinary professionals and students who need it, provided in a confidential and safe environment, and accessible without fear of judgement.
The Mind Matters Initiative has been running in the UK since 2015 and addresses mental ill-health within the veterinary team by tackling systemic issues that put individuals at risk; protecting those who may be working in sub-optimal conditions by providing them with training and tools such as mindfulness and personal well-being solutions; and supporting those who need specific help by funding and promoting independent sources of one-to-one help.
The AVMA programme includes activities that address mental health issues such as development of a workplace wellbeing education program and ongoing education and outreach in the areas of optimising wellbeing, creating cultures of wellbeing in the workplace, boundary setting and conflict transformation.
